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| How the White House bungled the Bergdahl case |
| 2015-03-29 |
| LA Times Guest Opinion piece: Bungled? No, the case was delayed for a reason. Following an extended investigation, the U.S. Army last week announced serious charges against Sgt. Robert “Bowe” Bergdahl, the soldier who was captured by the Taliban in 2009 while serving in Afghanistan, then released last May through a prisoner exchange. The Army is seeking a court-martial on the charge of desertion plus the even graver charge of “misbehavior before the enemy.” Bergdahl, if convicted, could serve life in prison. How strange that, only 10 months ago, President Obama hailed the soldier's return with fanfare at the Rose Garden, including photo ops with Bergdahl's parents. The White House spun the story as rare good news out of Afghanistan, the seemingly endless war that the president has been trying to wind down for years. From today's vantage point, the administration's celebration of this POW's homecoming seems misguided, to say the least. But it seemed misguided last spring, too. Even at that time, there were dissenting voices wondering if securing Bergdahl's release, in a barter with the enemy for five prominent members of the Taliban, was actually a fair trade. Then there was the matter of how exactly Bergdahl wound up a prisoner. It's clear that Bergdahl was mistreated by the Taliban while in their custody, yet the question of whether he collaborated with his captors, and to what extent, remains open. For years, word circulated in intelligence agencies that Bergdahl was, in fact, a defector. Some quietly considered him not worth saving at all. Allegations of gross misconduct by Bergdahl seem to have been borne out by the very hefty charges he now faces — charges that are used rarely by military prosecutors and imply cooperation with the enemy. Initial doubts about Bergdahl's return were brushed off, with the White House doubling down in its customary fashion. The Army's investigation was thorough and meticulous. That trial will generate major media attention, and key evidence against Bergdahl will likely include what he told Army debriefers after his return home. Intelligence information detailing Bergdahl's dealings with the enemy, which is believed to be unflattering, is not expected to be used at trial due to classification issues. How the White House will deal with the Bergdahl case from this point on will be a crucial component of this continuing saga. Bergdahl was a 'throwaway', a convenient cover for action. His usefulness to the regime is over, terminated. From a regime standpoint, whatever happens to him now, is on him. It is admirable to bring POWs home, no matter how they wound up in enemy hands, and charlatans deserve to come home as much as heroes do. Taliban captivity is a terrible experience. Yet it is not admirable to turn a possible deserter into some sort of public hero. Why this White House chose to handle the Bergdahl case in such an inept manner, despite ample information indicating its official narrative was, at the least, highly selective, is a matter for future historians to ponder. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #10 AlanC, no I'm not sure... |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2015-03-29 20:23 |
| #9 I still think he plans to give GITMO to Fidel and Raul before he leaves office. Make a nice 'Robben Island' style tribute to Yankie Imperialism. I can envision the Champ giving the keynote address at the turnover. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-03-29 17:39 |
| #8 Burning down the house is a fundamental transformation. The problem is what's rebuilt may not be what you thought it would be. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-03-29 17:35 |
| #7 49Pan & JQC, are you sure that this is inept? You sure this isn't deliberate? As the trope says "If he wanted to destroy America and it's reputation and influence in the world, what would he do differently?" After 6+ years I'm forced to give him credit that he meant what he said about fundamental transformation. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2015-03-29 17:33 |
| #6 Indeed 49 Pan this bunch has to surround every event with a great deal of drama--a bunch of inept drama queens. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2015-03-29 17:07 |
| #5 I attribute this event, the Harvard professor, bengaze, et all a product of an arrogant immature administration. Neither him or anyone on his staff have the experience to look past the "Hay this is a good idea" phase. An appropriate responce to the Bergdahl event would have been a simple press statement, "We leave no one behind, hero or traitor. PVT Bergdahl is no exception. We will conduct an investigation to the allegations of his action. Until then he will be stationed on administrative duties until the investigation is complete. No more questions will be taken,thank you." This amateur administration, he only had a few years in politics, is the same reason I will not vote for Ted Cruz. His team will be amateurs and arrogant as well. We need an ex governor, someone not entrenched in DC but savvy enough to understand what the hell they are doing... |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2015-03-29 14:40 |
| #4 Depot Guy, appeared is the correct term here. I'm afraid that this regime is less inept than most people think. The problem is that too few really understand what they're trying to do. They appear inept because they don't want you to know what their goals really are. The more they succeed the worse America gets...and that's deliberate. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2015-03-29 14:28 |
| #3 Why this White House chose to handle the Bergdahl case in such an inept manner… is a matter for future historians to ponder. As a budding future historian allow me to explain. This case is only tangentially about Bergdahl. In reality, this is about Obama by hook or crook finding a way to close down GITMO. They were well aware of the circumstances surrounding Bergdahls’ departure. Obama disregarded warnings from senior administration, military, and intelligence and chose the advice of his political squad. The WH intentionally broke the law by not providing congress a 30 day notice of the Taliban release. Does anyone really believe that the O-Team cares if they appear “inept”? |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2015-03-29 11:56 |
| #2 Whatever this POS Administration has touched, they've bungled and/or destroyed. Wouldn't expect anything different. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2015-03-29 11:05 |
| #1 The Taliban were released, they're free and they will remain free. Mission accomplished! If more is revealed about the circumstances of Bergdahl's disappearance the White House will be shocked, shocked and throw the book at him. Bergdahl doesn't count. |
| Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 2015-03-29 01:03 |